Miniature RC Boat [Archive]

Steve Godfrey

Dec 27, 2002, 07:02 PM

Is there an equivalent to the Mini-Z in boat form? A 1/24th scale RC
boat.

Thanks

B McNeal

Dec 27, 2002, 07:22 PM

<!doctype html public "-//w3c//dtd html 4.0 transitional//en">
<html>
Closest one I know of is the zig-zag racer seen here.
<p><A HREF="http://www.hobbyworks.com/default.cfm?Content=fullproduct&hs=rc&amp;ID=497836">http://www.hobbyworks.com/default.cfm?Content=fullproduct&hs=rc&amp;ID=49783 6</A>
<p>Still about 10" long though.
<br>Quick little boat, turns on a dime.</html>

Allan

Dec 28, 2002, 04:12 AM

400 powered boats are commercially available from about 12" long. The problem is that much smaller and they do not cope with ponds well! You can certainly build smaller and the smallest I have seen with full radio is about 8" long. It's all down to getting the radio in.

Further the small plastic kits can be modified - you can use a stripped down servo for speed control and miniature radio for the rest,

Allan

--
For Radio Controlled Model Boats Visist our website www.astecmodels.co.uk

Fast Electrics a speciality
"B McNeal" <wmcneal@ilnk.com> wrote in message news:3E0CED83.1607E739@ilnk.com...
Closest one I know of is the zig-zag racer seen here.
http://www.hobbyworks.com/default.cfm?Content=fullproduct&hs=rc&ID=497836

Still about 10" long though.
Quick little boat, turns on a dime.

henry.springer@virgin.net

Dec 28, 2002, 11:02 AM

Deans Marine do some nice little versions of Puffers etc. using
standard radio gear with a modified servo used as speeed controller
and drive motor. I'm just building one - about 10 in long just the
size for my garden pond. Trouble with all small boat models is that
waves remain the same size so scope for using the models becomes more
and more restricted.

>Is there an equivalent to the Mini-Z in boat form? A 1/24th scale RC
>boat.
>
>Thanks

R.J.O.

Dec 28, 2002, 01:42 PM

Could you explain how you use a modified servo as a speed controller? I'm
building a small billing life boat and could do with using something along
those lines.

Roger O

<henry.springer@virgin.net> wrote in message
news:3e0dc8d2.22758984@usenet.plus.net...
> Deans Marine do some nice little versions of Puffers etc. using
> standard radio gear with a modified servo used as speeed controller
> and drive motor. I'm just building one - about 10 in long just the
> size for my garden pond. Trouble with all small boat models is that
> waves remain the same size so scope for using the models becomes more
> and more restricted.
>
> >Is there an equivalent to the Mini-Z in boat form? A 1/24th scale RC
> >boat.
> >
> >Thanks
>

A.T.

Dec 28, 2002, 01:52 PM

refer to "Servo & TX alterations, calculators, clonepacs, make an ESC or
winch, FAQ" under Radios at Alan's Hobby Web Links
http://homepages.ihug.co.nz/~atong/
.................................................. .............

"R.J.O." <orchards@nospam.blueyonder.co.uk> wrote in message
news:h3mP9.5123$jJ.35732686@news-text.cableinet.net...
> Could you explain how you use a modified servo as a speed controller? I'm
> building a small billing life boat and could do with using something along
> those lines.
>
> Roger O
>
>
> <henry.springer@virgin.net> wrote in message
> news:3e0dc8d2.22758984@usenet.plus.net...
> > Deans Marine do some nice little versions of Puffers etc. using
> > standard radio gear with a modified servo used as speeed controller
> > and drive motor. I'm just building one - about 10 in long just the
> > size for my garden pond. Trouble with all small boat models is that
> > waves remain the same size so scope for using the models becomes more
> > and more restricted.
> >
> > >Is there an equivalent to the Mini-Z in boat form? A 1/24th scale RC
> > >boat.
> > >
> > >Thanks
> >
>
>

Roy

Dec 28, 2002, 05:42 PM

In message <3e0dc8d2.22758984@usenet.plus.net>,
henry.springer@virgin.net writes
>Deans Marine do some nice little versions of Puffers etc. using
>standard radio gear with a modified servo used as speeed controller
>and drive motor. I'm just building one - about 10 in long just the
>size for my garden pond. Trouble with all small boat models is that
>waves remain the same size so scope for using the models becomes more
>and more restricted.

I have run the actual factory "Puffer" prototype at several UK events
and can confirm that the little puffer can take choppy water that sends
much larger boats back to the safety of the owners hands. At Beal Park
this year. I ran the puffer and watched amazed on the Sunday afternoon
when the Thames Club's lads all picked up their gear and left for home.
It was pouring with rain and blowing up a fair chop at the time but the
puffer handled it with ease and took in no water.

Deans make a number of these small "Compact" kits powered by servo
motors. My favourite is the new release Tug which is a twin screw job
that can turn on a penny and is a fun boat to drive. I have a Dean's
puffer of my own to build when the other four models under construction
in the workshop are completed. I also have several Revell kits to build
and RC modify over the next twelve months.

Cheers.
--
Roy Holt

Roy

Dec 28, 2002, 05:42 PM

In message <h3mP9.5123$jJ.35732686@news-text.cableinet.net>, R.J.O.
<orchards@nospam.blueyonder.co.uk> writes
>Could you explain how you use a modified servo as a speed controller? I'm
>building a small billing life boat and could do with using something along

Take top off servo.
Take out gears and discard.
Use small circuit board, potentiometer and the motor mounted beneath.

Apply fully charged power pack to receiver.

Plug in servo jack to receiver.

Switch on transmitter.

Switch on receiver.

Motor will probably run.

Use the adjustable pot to ensure than motor stops when transmitter
control lever and trim slide are centred off.

Test motor reverses direction by moving control lever forward and
reverse.

Test that motor stops completely in centre off position.

Done.

The problem with using servos in this way is that as the voltage of the
battery pack drops off the centre off position may wander a fraction.

Cheers.
--
Roy Holt

Rob

Dec 29, 2002, 07:52 AM

The servo mods above are just right - even a ham-handed guy like can
do 'em. I've got 2 of these - a Lindberg tug and Lindberg North
Atlantic Trawler. Of the 2, I like the trawler better - it handles
the 'sea' better and is a little faster. The trawler has a
bigger-than-scale rudder while the tug uses the kit rudder. One
caveat - for whatever reason, Lindberg props are molded backwards -
mount 'em back-end-to-the-front,. The LIndberg prop works pretty well
without any modification, but I spent considerable time on the
trawler's prop with an Xacto knife and sandpaper.

Kurt Greiner

Dec 29, 2002, 04:32 PM

One problem with the Lindberg Diesel Tug is that the keel is way too wide at
the stern, interupting water flow to the prop. This is why the Coast Guard Tug
performs better even though it is smaller. You can correct this by filling the
area with catalyzed body filler (like evercoat) and grinding back, or you can
purchase a replacement hull from Microglass that is already done for you. This
mod really makes a difference in the performance of the little tug. The amount
of push the servo motor can provide is quite a bit - enough to help our big
1/96 scale battleships dock!

Kurt

Kurt Greiner

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